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Community Food Share kicks off 'Let's Bag Hunger' food drive today

By Joe Rubino Camera Staff Writer

Posted:
11/17/2013 07:30:25 AM MST

Updated:
11/17/2013 08:39:55 AM MST

Stacey DiSanti, right, of Niwot, is helped by Chris Lites as she pays for her purchases--including a bag of donated items for Community Food Share---at Whole Foods in November, 2009 on the last day of the that year's "Let's Bag Hunger" food drive.
Photo by Marty Caivano/Camera/Nov. 25, 2009
(MARTY CAIVANO)

It has been a tough last few months for many area residents following September's historic flooding, and the needs created by the disaster have been felt by many local nonprofits, including Community Food Share.

A Feeding America food bank tasked with serving Boulder and Broomfield counties, Community Food Share in August moved into a new, larger building located at 650 Taylor Ave. in Lafayette. The added space helped prepare the nonprofit, which provides food directly to needy residents and also to other area food pantries, shelters and soup kitchens, to help support flood victims, according to staff.

In the wake of the storm, Community Food Share is hoping for strong participation in its 29th annual "Let's Bag Hunger" food drive that begins today, staff members say.

"We have high hopes not only for our normal feeding operations but also for all the flood support we're doing," Tom Reed, the food bank's food procurement manager, said of the important food drive, which is largest one the agency organizes each year.

Community Food Share hopes to collect 85,000 pounds of food and $20,000 in monetary support during the "Let's Bag Hunger" drive, which will run through Nov. 27 this year, Reed said.

Last year, the drive collected 84,300 pounds of food and $10,930 over 11 days.

Those seeking to contribute to the drive should bring nonperishable food items to participating King Soopers locations in Boulder, Lafayette, Louisville and Broomfield. Lucky's Market, 3960 N. Broadway, Alfalfa's Market, 1651 Broadway, and Sprouts Farmers Market, 2950 Baseline Road, in Boulder are also serving as collections sites, as is the Niwot Market, located near the intersection of 79th Street and Niwot Road.

The Daily Camera is sponsoring the drive, and its offices, 5450 Western Ave., in east Boulder are also serving as a collection site.

Community Food Share receives donations of fresh produce, dairy and breads from various grocery stores and farmers and relies on the food drives like "Let's Bag Hunger" to provided canned foods with a longer shelf life, according to its website. Canned meats or tuna, soups, canned meals or chili, pasta and sauce, cereal, peanut butter and canned vegetables are especially helpful.

Kat Brand, residential program supervisor for Attention Homes, a nonprofit that provides shelter, counseling and residential treatment to at-risk youth and teens in Boulder County, said she gets as much as 80 percent of the agency's weekly groceries from Community Food Share. She too is hoping for a successful "Let's Bag Hunger" drive this year.

"It's an excellent foundation to support because the number of people it serves is pretty amazing," Brand said.

Community Food Share distributes more than 7.5 million meals each year through its network of 50 member agencies. Each dollar donated to the nonprofit is turned into four meals, Reed said.

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